In a dramatic show of speed and seamanship, Nextgen by Jajo, a Volvo 65 racing yacht, has clinched line honours in the 40th edition of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), becoming the first boat to reach Saint Lucia after a rapid 2,700-nautical-mile voyage from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
The yacht, skippered by Dutch sailor Jelmer Van Beek, completed the transatlantic crossing in an impressive 10 days, 48 minutes, and 51 seconds, showcasing the raw power and performance potential of the purpose-built ocean racer.
“Line honours is always a special thing and it’s never easy,” said Van Beek upon arrival. “We knew we had the fastest boat but you need to execute it, so I’m really proud of the team.”
Sailing downwind for most of the crossing, Nextgen by Jajo maintained blistering speeds of over 20 knots, thanks to its fully carbon fibre hull and rig. The Volvo 65—formerly known as Team Brunel—has a decorated history in ocean racing, including a previous ARC line honours victory and record in 2015.
Welcomed ashore by local officials and rally organisers, the crew celebrated their arrival with a well-earned rum punch and a warm reception.
“It’s been such a nice warm welcome after finishing our Atlantic crossing,” Van Beek added. “After 10 days at sea, we’ve had a nice rum punch and the crew are going to have a shower. We’re really happy to be here.”
While the ARC is primarily a cruising rally focused on safety and camaraderie for sailors crossing the Atlantic, boats like Nextgen by Jajo bring a competitive edge and high-performance sailing into the mix.
“A Volvo 65 is my favourite boat,” said Van Beek, who has crossed the Atlantic eight times on the yacht. “It can give you a lot of speed and power, but you always have to be alert because there’s a lot of force in the boat.”
Following their ARC triumph, the team plans to head to Saint Maarten for the Caribbean 600 and the Heineken Regatta, before returning to The Netherlands.
The next yacht expected to reach Saint Lucia is the trimaran Picomole, skippered by Aldo Fumagalli, followed by ReMax One and La Loevie.
With over 800 participants in this milestone edition of the ARC, the arrival of boats will kick off a vibrant calendar of social events leading up to the official prizegiving on 20 December. The ARC community is set to enjoy Saint Lucian hospitality while celebrating their ocean-crossing achievements and reconnecting with fellow sailors.
